If you’re looking to buy a new home, it’s likely that you’ll need to put down a deposit. These days, the minimum deposit is usually equivalent to 5% of the value of the property. A 5% deposit will mean you have a 95% LTV (Loan to Value) ratio.
With house prices in the UK currently at a staggering 8 x average earnings, just getting on the housing ladder can be very difficult. This is where a gifted deposit might help.
A gifted deposit is a sum of money given to you by someone else, usually a member of your family, so that you can put down enough of a deposit to buy a home. Importantly, the money you are gifted must be given by way of a gift and not a loan.
Many mortgage lenders will accept a gifted deposit as all or part of the proof of deposit and borrower provides when requesting a mortgage. However, in order for the deposit to be accepted, the lender will normally require that the following questions are addressed;
- What is the relationship between the mortgage applicant and the gifter
- What is the amount of money they wish to gift;
- Confirmation that the gift is non-refundable;
- That the gifter will hold no legal charge over the property
It’s not unusual for the gifter to be requested to provide a statement of account for where the money has originated. This is usual, for protection against money laundering. Also, should the gifter die within 7 years of giving the money, and the estate is in excess of the current Inheritance Tax (IHT) allowances at the time, there may be some IHT to pay on the gift, usually on a sliding scale.
For more information, book a free appointment with one of our mortgage advisers now.
Recent posts
More borrowers using equity release
Yesterday
Almost one in five equity release mortgages are now taken out to provide financial support to family.
Buyers purchasing properties sooner
3 days ago
According to industry data, the expected wait for those looking to buy a property has dropped from just over 11 months to less than six months.
It is common for your first mortgage payment to be higher than your subsequent monthly payments for two reasons.
What to do just before you get your keys
8 days ago
Firstly, a big congratulations, you’ve now exchanged contracts! After weeks and months of waiting, you are about to move in. What should you do first?
The chancellor will deliver her second budget this autumn. Due to slow economic growth and high inflation, the government need to manage a £40 billion shortfall in public finances. There have already been reports about changes to taxes including income tax and capital gains tax.
Landlords could face a new tax this autumn
29 Aug 2025
The chancellor has advised that landlords could have another tax to pay this autumn as the Treasury decide whether to extend national insurance contributions to rental income.
According to a report in the Guardian, senior ministers have asked Treasury officials to look into a “proportional” property tax to see how it would work as an alternative to the existing stamp duty land tax on owner-occupied homes.
More than a quarter of UK adults in long-term relationships (26%) have reported that despite living together, they keep their finances separate from one another.
More information
Trusted by
